AS Exam Skills: Investigation Glossary

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Agenda 21	The initiative of the 1992 United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro designed to foster local-scale projects that support sustainable development.
Aim	A broad, general statement about a topic.
Analysis	The interpretation and evaluation of the results of your data collection.
Annotate	Write notes or comments on a map, diagram or photograph that explain what they show.
Appendix	A section for supplementary evidence not essential to the main findings of an investigation. It can provide useful backup support material.
Audit	A detailed assessment of an existing situation.
Bar Charts/Histograms	Charts where the length of each bar represents the quantity of each component. The vertical axis measures the total of each of these components. Bar chart is the technical term where the data is discrete, histogram where the data is continuous.
Bibliography	The books and other sources which have been consulted.
Calibration	Correcting or synchronising the readings of fieldwork equipment with a known standard to ensure that they are accurate.
Central tendency	Summarising data by showing some sort of average such as maximum, minimum, mean, mode, median.
Choropleth Maps	Maps showing relative density.
Clustered	A group of items that are closer together than would be expected if the distribution were random.
Conclusion	A summary of all the major findings in an investigation. No new evidence should appear in a conclusion since it should summarise, synthesise and highlight the findings. There should be a critical evaluation of their significance and reliability.
Confidence Limits	The degree to which a calculated result deviates from a chance occurrence.
Contents	All the sections of a report listed in sequence with page references. This is not necessary for a 1000 word report but must be included in the 2 500 word Personal Investigative Study.
Correlation	A relationship or connection between two or more sets of data.
Cost-Benefit Analysis	An audit used to assess how the costs of a scheme relate to the resulting benefits.
Data	Facts or collected information. Continuous data is collected continuously over time and space. Discontinuous data is collected at intervals (regularly or randomly).
Data interpretation	The results, trends etc. shown by collected data.
Data presentation	The range of techniques, maps, graphs, tables, photographs. diagrams, field sketches, statistical methods, used to represent data.
Degrees of freedom	A number which represents the size of a sample. The method of calculation varies according to the statistical test used.
Descriptive Statistics	Simple statistics which summarise data e.g. maximum, minimum, mean, mode, median, range.
Dispersed	A group of items occurring further away from each other than would be expected from a random distribution.
Dispersion	How far figures differ from the average, for example range interquartile range.
Dispersion Diagrams	Diagrams similar to bar charts showing the range of a set, or sets, of data and the tendency to group or disperse.
Distribution	The pattern of data on a map.
Enumeration District	The smallest division of the UK's census small area statistics. It is a subdivision of a ward.
Factor	One thing which forms part of a or effects whole thing or process.
Flow Line Maps	Maps showing the volume of movement between places. The quantity or volume is shown by the thickness of the line. The direction of movement is shown by an arrow.
Frequency	The number of times something occurs.
Function	The main purpose of something.
Hypothesis	A statement involving an idea which can be the starting point for an investigation. The outcome can be accepted, rejected or inconclusive. A Null Hypothesis is the reverse of the hypothesis.
Interpolation	The estimation of intermediate values and patterns in data.
Interquartile range	Removing the top and bottom quartiles (quarters) from a set of data leaving the middle half and stating the range that remains.
Introduction	The purpose of an investigation with details of the structure of the sections that follow. This is often best written in draft form and then revised after the findings and conclusion have been completed.
Isoline Maps	Maps of isolines, lines joining places of equal value or amounts. Isobars and contours are examples of isolines.
Large Scale Map	A map (e.g. 1:25 000 1: 10 000) which covers a small area but supplies a lot of detail.
Limitations	How and why an investigation is less than perfect.
Line Graphs	Graphs which show continuous changes over time.
Macro	Very large scale.
Mann Whitney U Test	A test of difference between the medians of two ranked sets of data.
Maximum	The largest value of a set of data.
Mean	The average value of a set of data.
Median	The middle value when all the items in a set of data are arranged in rank order.
Micro	Very small scale.
Minimum	The smallest value of a set of data.
Mode	The most frequently occurring value in a set of data.
Morphology	The shape or form of something.
Nearest Neighbour Index	The measure of the spatial distribution of points. It is worked out by calculating the average distance between each point and its nearest neighbour.
NIMBY	Not in My Backyard, an attitude towards a proposal that is seen as for the good of all, but not something people want built near them.
Normal Distribution	A bell shaped curve which is perfectly symmetrical, with the mean and median at the same point.
Objective	Unbiased (not influences by personal opinions).
Objectives	Specific ideas drawn from a general aim or statement about a topic.
Pictograms	When a picture or symbol is used to represent data.
Pie Charts	Circles showing variations composition of a geographical feature. Proportional pie charts show variation in size as well.
Pilot Questionnaire	A preliminary questionnaire to test whether the questions produce the sort of answers expected and that these can be processed and analysed. Asking about 10 people should highlight any questions that are poorly worded, confusing or too difficult to answer.
Pilot Survey	A preliminary visit to a fieldwork site to assess its value for investigation.
Plagiarism	Copying the work of others. This can have very serious consequences.
Population Pyramid	A horizontal bar chart showing the age and gender structure of a population.
Prediction	A statement that suggests likely future events or outcomes.
Primary Data	Data collected personally through fieldwork.
Probability	The likelihood of a particular event occurring.
Qualitative Data	Data that is subjective, based on non-numerical value or opinion.
Quantitative Data	Data that is measured or measurable.
Random	The equal chance of any occurrence.
Range	The maximum value in a set of data minus the minimum value.
Rank Order	Data placed in order from largest to smallest.
Risk Assessment	The identification and evaluation of the potential sources of harm to yourself and others.
Sample Size	Sufficient variety and number within a sample to make it representative of the whole.
Sampling	A technique used when it is not possible to survey everything, There are three principal methods of sampling: random, systematic and stratified.
Scatterplots/graphs	Graphs which show how two sets of data are related to each other.
Secondary Data	All published or second-hand information such as a census, books, articles, statistics, maps.
Significance Test	A test to see whether the differences between sets of data could have occurred by chance or if they are real. The 't' test is one example.
Skewed Curve	A non-symmetrical distribution bias towards one end of a distribution curve.
Small Scale Map	A map which covers a large area but gives little detail.
Spearman Rank	A test to establish whether two ranked sets of data are related.
Standard Deviation	The average variation from the mean in a set of data.
Summary	The main points of an investigation.
Symmetrical Curve	A curve which, when divided by a central line, is identical in size and shape either side of that line.
Title Page	This should be the Coursework Cover Sheet provided by OCR for an investigation. There are three investigative units so make sure that you have the correct cover sheet for your investigation.
Totals	The data values added together. Partial totals, adding some of the data but not all of it. Accumulative totals, a running total as the data is worked through. Grand total, the complete end total of all the data.
Transect	A line used in fieldwork for collecting a sample of data.
Triangular Graphs	Graphs showing data that can be divided into three parts. The data must be in percentages which total 100%.
Variance	The square of the standard deviation.